Megalithic Arts of South India: Creative Representations of Our Earliest Ancestors

Praveen C.K.

Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, India; praveenckrishna@gmail.com

All the arts are expressions that represent primordial to complex human behaviours. Megalithic arts of South India represent the creative expression of early communities, prominently visible on monumental stone structures such as dolmens, cists, menhirs, and rock-cut chambers. These artworks include engravings, bruising marks, and occasional paintings, reflecting the spiritual and social life of their creators. Archaeological studies have uncovered significant examples of this art across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These large stone structures demonstrate a tradition where stone served as both a medium for ritual and a canvas for creativity. Both artistic forms are representations of the spiritual and social life of the people using the medium of an art in which artists are the progenitors. This art offers fascinating insights into the native culture and history of the region.